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The players head out amid the roar, Hampden Park divided in two with blue and green sections. For the right to meet St Mirren in this stadium in December … the action begins.

Additional Fixtures

Additional games: John Brewin provides live updates for the West Ham-Newcastle clash in the Premier League; Yara El-Shaboury brings the newest developments from the day's opening matches in the Women's Super League.

Regarding our coverage, there's just over five minutes before the game begins at Hampden Park!

Officiating Team

Nick Walsh will referee this afternoon. He also refereed the 2024 Scottish Cup final involving Celtic and Rangers plus a European fixture in the last term during which he issued four red cards and a dozen bookings. Avoid challenging him.

Manager Insights

Danny Röhl: While this is his first Old Firm, the recently appointed boss has emphasized in recent days that he's familiar with being involved in other major rivalries as a coach, at Bayern Munich plus his stint at Wednesday.

I recollect when Hansi Flick assumed control, our following match took place against Dortmund at our stadium. We triumphed 4-0. It always provides a lift following success in these encounters. Furthermore, in the Championship during the Steel City derby, I participated there too. I understand the significance to the supporters. This transcends ordinary football.

The 36-year-old German has been praising the enduring career of 73-year-old Martin O'Neill.

I hold great admiration for such a coaching career. I believe it's always impressive as a manager when you work so long in this business and accomplish your objectives.

I'm only starting out of my career. I have substantial work ahead to reach that level though the encouraging factor we start at 0-0, distinct coaching generations and let's see what we can contribute via our selections in this fixture.

I'm incredibly enthusiastic. I have had some experience yet I foresee a massive occasion during Sunday's match. To be part of such a game, everything is at stake. Success secures a final place, a loss ends your participation. I feel all elements converge for an outstanding match.

Counterpart Perspective

Martin O'Neill: The stand-in manager has been reflecting this week concerning his debut match against Rangers two and a half decades past, the 6-2 'Demolition Derby'.

Certainly, matching that achievement may prove quite arduous, putting six past them against those opponents. I'd settle for a really lousy 1-0 victory should we achieve it. Certain supporters approach and say to me: 'That was a fantastic encounter', though they weren't alive then. They relate to me their grandfathers and fathers discussed it frequently. It transformed into a crucial game for our club, not only during that campaign, but possibly for sustained development.

The nervousness for about 72 hours beforehand, and then should you secure success, significant comfort. And I believe that's exactly the great Walter Smith often mentioned too, that relief outweighed other emotions. Yet these represented superb matches genuinely. It remains a wonderful encounter.

This is a big game for our team. Honestly, don't conceal that fact. It's a last-four clash, it's an important game for our side. Any Celtic-Rangers game represents a major event, though especially considering the situation of recent times, possibly even months, certainly.

Managerial Experience

Two new managers in the dugouts today but there's a big gap in Old Firm experience between them. Danny Röhl encounters his inaugural as the Rangers boss while Martin O'Neill is about to take charge his 28th such match.

Today's result may substantially affect on how long O'Neill's second spell as stand-in Celtic coach continues, as Ewan Murray has been pondering.

They could potentially invest substantial compensation to lure Kieran McKenna from Ipswich. They might consider an even bigger gamble involving Robbie Keane. The reigning champions may opt to give Nicky Hayen from Club Brugge a debut opportunity of British football. These represent risks in different manners. Even more than O'Neill? This is arguable.

Team Selections

Celtic FC (4-3-3): Schmeichel; Ralston, Trusty, Scales, Sarrachi; McGregor, Engels, Nygren; Maeda, Kenny, Tounekti.

Substitutes: Sinisalo, Balikwisha, Yang, Osmand, McCowan, Hatate, Murray, Forrest, Tierney.

Marcelo Sarrachi features ahead of Kieran Tierney at left-back. James Forrest is additionally excluded from the starting lineup that beat Falkirk in their recent match.

Rangers (3-4-3): Butland; Djiga, Souttar, Cornelius; Tavernier, Diomande, Raskin, Meghoma; Aasgaard, Chermiti, Danilo.

Substitutes: Kelly, Aarons, Fernández, Rothwell, Antman, Moore, Gassama, Curtis, Miovski.

James Tavernier receives preference instead of Max Aarons on the right, with Mohamed Diomande coming in replacing the banned Connor Barron in the middle and Thelo Aasgaard preferred over Mikey Moore in forward roles.

Match Preview

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